ALPHA, N.J. (AP) — Authorities say a dog started a fire when he accidentally turned on an electric stove. The German shepherd and another dog were alone in the Alpha home when the fire broke out around 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Authorities say there were "flammable items" on the counter near the stove, and they believe the German shepherd was looking for food and got up on its hind legs. The dog apparently hit a knob — turning on the stove's rear burner — and pushed the items onto the stove.
A ceiling fan that was running on low then lifted some of the burning items onto a nearby foam dog bed, which ignited and filled the home's bottom floor with smoke. A firefighter was able to extinguish the fire and police got a rear door open, allowing the dogs to safely escape.